Bengaluru:Â In a kind gesture, cab aggregator Ola in association with Election authorities would be giving free rides to persons with disabilities (PWD) to their polling booths in Karnataka.
This initiative is to increase number of people to vote in the Lok Sabha Elections in the State.
The initiative would be carried out across Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Mangaluru on 18 April and Ballari, Hubali-Dharwad, Gulbarga and Belgaum on 23 April. Ola has partnered with the office of the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer and civic bodies and has assigned 270 cabs to the election commission.
While the first phase of Lok Sabha polls with 14 of the 28 seats going for elections today, the second phase will be held on 23 April.
Speaking of the new initiative, Surya Sen A V, Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka said that the commission appreciates Ola’s efforts in enabling free transportation so that every citizen can go vote.
Availability of convenient transport options had resulted in positive voter turnout in recent past and the company would continue to back initiatives that support the constitutional machinery of the country, claimed Vishnu Bommareddy, Ola Regional Head (South).
Ola has set up helpline numbers 9071464553 / 7624915133 to assist the PWD voters and address any issues that arise.